A first for Indian cinema on a Hollywood stage
No Indian film had ever opened this way before. On Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Ramayana: Part 1 held its world premiere at the David Geffen Theatre inside the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. The screening was invite only and shown in 3D, in a hall that seats 945 people. The Hindu reported that Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, producer Namit Malhotra, director Nitesh Tiwari and actor-producer Yash all walked the red carpet that night. The venue has hosted premieres for leading Hollywood films in the past, and the makers picked it for a clear reason. They wanted the world to see this film as a global event, not just a big Indian release. Malhotra told PTI before the screening that it was a great moment to showcase the story to the world on such a grand scale. He also said the film carried several firsts for Indian cinema, and that the visibility it could win for the country mattered as much as the film itself.
Who was there and what they wore
The red carpet belonged to the film's three leads. Ranbir Kapoor, who plays Ram, kept it understated in a textured ivory jacket and black trousers. Sai Pallavi, who plays Sita, wore a pink saree with silver detailing. Yash, who plays Ravana, went for all black, finished with a gold brooch. The three arrived in traditional dress, and videos from the event soon spread across social media. Director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra joined them on the carpet, along with the wider team behind the film. The Hollywood guest list gave the night its extra shine. Outlook India reported that Jada Pinkett Smith attended in a floor length royal blue velvet gown, joined by her inner circle. Jonathan Scott, the Property Brothers co-star, wore a sleek black bandhgala. Other guests included Korbin Miles, Karen Fukuhara from The Boys, Benji Kelly and Gisella Marengo. The mix of stars was the point. This was not a screening for the Indian community in Los Angeles. Malhotra told PTI the premiere was designed to introduce the film to Western viewers, and he stressed that a mainstream Western audience was coming in to see it.
What Yash and Namit Malhotra said on the night
Yash used his moment on the carpet to talk about why the story still matters. He spoke about the cultural weight of Ramayana, which has been part of Indian storytelling for centuries. "Where you start can never define how far you can go. Today, I am proud of being a member of the Kannada film industry, telling our story, which is not just a story," he said. He added that in India, people do not just tell the story, they remember it and pass it down for generations, and that the story has travelled for thousands of years. It was a proud, personal note from an actor playing Ravana in his Hindi cinema debut. Malhotra spoke in bigger terms. He called it the ultimate moment for Indian cinema, and pointed to Ramayana hoardings across a whole city in the United States. He said the Los Angeles screening was not just about creating curiosity but about credibility. A Hollywood studio, Sony Pictures, is handling the film's international distribution, while Dharma Productions distributes it in the Hindi speaking market.
The first reactions were loud and split
The screening itself drew strong early reactions, and they did not all agree. Mathrubhumi reported that the loudest praise went to the sheer size of the film, with early viewers calling it a visual treat and praising its ambition and authenticity. One podcast host called it pure cinematic escapism, and one viewer compared it to a Lord of the Rings style epic. Reports described thunderous applause in the hall. One headline said Ranbir Kapoor moved audiences to tears, and the music by A. R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer also drew applause. Yash's performance was picked out as one of the strong points. But not everyone left glowing. Outlook India described the response as mixed. Some viewers felt the film leaned on spectacle and action instead of drama and emotion, which left parts of the narration flat. Others blamed a sagging second half on where Part 1 chooses to stop, saying thin material gets stretched across long action blocks. A section of viewers was also unhappy with the musical score, the pacing and some visual effects. Those split first reactions set up the debate that has run ever since, and they look a lot like the mixed reviews that arrived when the film opened in India on November 5.
Why the LA night still matters after release
Nine days after the premiere, the film opened worldwide on November 5, 2026, and the Los Angeles night still shapes how people talk about it. The premiere gave Ramayana a global launch that no Indian film had tried at this scale. It put the film in front of Hollywood guests, Western press and international critics before a single ticket went on sale in India. It also gave the makers their first real test. The applause for the scale and for Yash told them what was working. The complaints about pacing, emotion and music told them what critics would pick apart later. Both proved true when the reviews landed. The Times of India gave the film 4.5 out of 5, India Today gave it 4 out of 5, and The Guardian gave it 4 out of 5, while the Indian Express, NDTV and News18 each gave it 3 out of 5, Outlook gave it 2.5 out of 5, and IGN gave it 4 out of 10. The premiere also produced one of the sweetest stories of the whole campaign. Sai Pallavi shared that Yash's young son Yatharv cried during the scene where Ravana kills Jatayu and told his father, "I didn't like you killing that bird." That small moment, reported by News18, says more about the film's pull than any red carpet photo. A child in the audience forgot the star and saw only the story.
What fans are saying on X
Badshah (@Its_Badshah), via News18, November 4, 2026: "You have to watch it. Namit has delivered. Every frame is breathtaking. The characters feel so real. It made me cry, even when we have known the story since our childhood. INCREDIBL BGM. Ranbir, Sai Pallavi, Ravi Dubey, Yash, Lara Dutta, Arun Govil, Rakul. Everyone nailed it. Jatayu scene is insane."
S. S. Rajamouli, via Moneycontrol, November 5, 2026: "#Ramayana is a story every Indian storyteller grows up aspiring to tell. It is a joy to see @niteshtiwari22 and @malhotra_namit bring it to the screen on such a grand scale. Each actor brings these timeless characters to life with depth. Looking forward to 5th November. Best wishes to the entire team."
Sources and reporting
- The Hindu — Oct 28, 2026 · Verifies the Oct 27 premiere at the David Geffen Theatre, the attendees, Yash's quote, Malhotra's PTI quotes, and the Rs 4,000 crore combined budget
- Outlook India — Oct 28, 2026 · Verifies the invite-only 3D screening, the 945-seat venue, the Hollywood guest list, and the traditional attire
- Mathrubhumi — Oct 31, 2026 · Verifies the mixed first reactions, the praise for scale and music, and the complaints about pacing, emotion and VFX
